Picture-exhibiting device.



."No. 718,763. PATENTED JAN. 20, 1903.

. v A. HOBRMLB. PICTURE EXHIBITING DEVICE.

APPLLOATION FILED JAN. 2s, 19.01. v Ho MODEL. s SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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n No. 718,763. PATENTED 11111.20, 1903. A. HOEEMLE. PICTURE EXEIEIIINGDEVICE. IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII EN. 2s, 1901.

UNiTEn STATES PATENT OEEICE.

ALBERT HOERMLE, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE LEO CANDA u MFG.CO., OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

PICTURE-EXHIBITING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. '718.763, dated January20, 1903.

` Application led January Z8, 1901. Serial No. 45,156. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern: and the lens-holder and connected parts en-Be it known thatI, ALBERT HOERMLE, aciti- 'tirely removed. Fig. 5 is avertical cross-seczen of theUnited States,and aresident of Cintion, andFig. 6 is a top view of the coin-recinnati, Hamilton county, State ofOhio, have ceiving hopper. Fig. 7 is a view similar to 55 inventedcertain new and useful Improve- Fig. 1, showing certain parts of themechanments in Automatic Picture-Exhibiting Deism in intermediateposition. Fig. 8 isaside vices; and I do declare that the following is aelevation of the operating lever-handle and clear, full, and exactdescription of the invencertain connected parts operating inconjunction, such as will enable others skilled in the tion therewith.Fig. 9 is a detail View showoo 1o art to which it appertains to make anduse ing end of one of the rollers with parts broken the same, attentionbeing called to the accomaway, illustrating manner of attachingpicpanying drawings, with the reference-numerture-ribbon. Figs. v10 and11 show at 'reals marked thereon, which form also a part duced scale,respectively, a .front and end of this specification. elevation of thedevice complete. 65

This invention relates to automatic picture- The pictures,preferablystereoscopic views,

exhibiting devices which may be set iu operaare contained upon a ribbon10, which is nortion by payment of a certain coin deposited mally woundaround a roller 11, to which also in a designated place, permitting aseries of one of its ends is secured. This roller is pictures to beviewed. mounted upon a shaft 12, supported in parts 7o 2o In my devicethe pictures are on a ribbon of the general frame 13. The other end ofattached with its-ends to two rollers placed the ribbon is attached toanother roller 14,

I parallel to each other, and upon one of which mounted upon a shaft l5,and also supported rollers the ribbon is normally wound. Mechin parts ofthe general frame 13. For showanism which may be rendered operative bying the pictures the ribbon is Wound upon 75 the payment ofa coin orotherwise causes the the exhibiting-roller, being this roller 14, emptyroller to rotate,whereby said ribbon is which winding is eected byrotating the wound upon it, `the pictures being viewed same. The ribbonunwinding from roller 11 while passing through the space from one andwhile passing to the other roller permits roller to the other. At'theend of the operathe pictures to be seen through suitable view- 8o 3otion and when all pictures have been viewed glasses. The pictures may beilluminated by the other or first roller is caused to rotate, anysuitable artificial light. In this case they whereby the ribbon is woundagain'upon such are rendered visible by having the ribbon of roller tobe ready for the next succeeding extransparent material and a window 21,closed hibition. y with ground glass, placed in the outer hous- 85 Inthe following specification and particuing and behind the exposed partof the riblarly pointed out in the claims at the end bon. The rotationof the exhibiting-roller is thereof is found a full description of myinby a motor driven by a weight or spring and vention, together with itsoperation, parts, wound for every exhibition by means of a andconstruction, which latter is also illuspivotally-supported lever-handle22, accessi- 9o 4o trated in the accompanying three sheets of ble fromthe outside. By preference the drawings, in whichactuation of thishandle is, however, opera- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the devicewith tively effective for winding the motor only in the inclosing outercase in section'. Fig. 2 is case the proper coin has been previously inasimilar view, the plane of view being taken serted through a slot 23into the coin-chute 95 farther back to show parts partly obscured 24,and is conveyed thereby to a certain poin the preceding view, for whichpurpose the sition, in which it is capable of and does aid frame of theapparatus is shown in section in transmitting operatively the actuationof and paris nearest the observer in the precedthe handle to the motor.For such purpose ing view are removed. Fig. 3 is a front view the coinis arrested during its descentthrough Ico 5o of the device with theouter case in section. the coin-chute by a stop projecting thereintoFig.v 4 is a top view, the case also in section and beyond which thecoin cannot drop. At

and above this stop part of one of the flat sides of the coin-chute therear side in this case is removed,rendering the coin-chute open thereatto an extent permitting exit of a coin atwise. Normally, however, thisopen part of the coin-chute is held closed by the perforated or forkedend of an angle-lever 25, pivotally supported on a pin 26 and carryingat its other end a segmental rack 27.

Integrally or otherwise rigidly connected to lever-handle 22 or to arock-shaft formed in this case by the pivot-pin 26, and so as to movewith the lever-handle, is a lever 28, forming at one of its ends afinger 29, so located and curved as to be adapted to pass through anopening in one of the flat sides, the one in front of the coin-chute,which opening is opposite and inline with the opening or space in theend of forked lever 25, 1ying against the open rear side of thecoinchnte. The area of these openings and the end of finger 29 areconsiderably smaller than the area of the smallest coin to be used, sothat when the progress of this latter through the coin-chute is arrestedby the stop therein the coin will rest between these openings and in aposition which closes passage therethrough. In this position the coin isalso between the open end of lever 25 and the end of finger 29, as shownin Fig. 1, so that when this fingerin consequence of a handle operat-ionmoves against the coin this latter will be pushed rearwardly and out ofthe coin-chute, moving against and displacing at the same time theforked lever 25, as shown in Fig. 2. This raises the segmental rack 27,and being connected by means of a connectingrod 3l to a spring 32 thislatter and the parts connected thereto are at once put under tension.This constitutes the winding of the spring-motor, and, as will be seen,it is made in this case dependent on thc insertion of a coin, which mustalso be of the proper size corresponding to the denomination intended,so as to be held in and occupy the necessary position, which is betweenthe open end of lever 25 and the end of finger 29. Upon release ofthelever-handle, this latter together with finger 29 are quickly returnedto their original positions by a spring 33. Lever 25 cannot immediatelyfollow in this return movement by reason of the engagement ot' its rack27 with a pinion 34, which has meanwhile taken place and whichengagement causes a separation between said lever and finger 29, wherebythe coin is liberated. (See Fig. 7.) The aforementioned stop holding thecoin in the coin chute may be simply a closure of this latter; but wheneither one of a larger or smaller coin-for instance, a nickel oracentare to be used, the coin-chute is merely sufficiently contracted.This contraction is edgewise and sufficient only to stop a nickel, butpermitting a cent to freely pass through. In order to stop a cent, Iprovide a spring-wire 35, connected with its upper end to the coin-chuteand its lower end bent and adapted to project through an opening intothe coin-chute. When not needed, the end of this wire is simply liftedout of this opening and moved laterally, so as to rest against thecoin-chute. (See Fig. Pinion 34 is loosely mounted upon a stud-shaft 3G,and beside it, loosely mounted, there is acogwheel 37, engaging a pinion38 on shaft 15, upon which the exhibiting-roller 14 is mounted. By meansof a customary pawl 39 on wheel 37 and ratchet-wheel 41 on pinion 34 theaction of the spring-motor is now transmitted from pinion 34 tocog-wheel 37 and from there reaches finally the exhibitionroller, whichnow starts to rotate, taking on the ribbon which unwinds from the otherroller. The pictures While passing through the space from one roller tothe other move through the field of vision and become observable behindthe view-glasses. The rotation in reverse direction of pinion 34, whichtakes place when segmental rack 27 is raised during the winding of thespring-motor, is not transmitted to cog-wheel 37 by reason of thedescribed pawl-and-ratchet connection between the two, which is notoperative at that time. This unwinding of the ribbon from roller 11causes, of course, this latter to rotate, which rotation I utilize toalso rotate a sheave 42, mounted upon shaft 12, which rotation causes acord 43 to wind upon said sheave. This cord passes over a guide-pulley44 and carries a weight 45 on its other end, which weight is thusraised. The eX- hibiting-roller continues to rotate until segmental rack27 has resumed its normal position-against a stop 46 when it is out ofgear with pinion 34. At that time roller 14 also ceases to rotate andthe pictures have all passed. The resistance of the spring not beingpresent any more, weight 45 is free to drop, which it does at once,thereby unwinding the cord from sheave 42. This causes rotation ofroller 11, whereby the ribbon is quickly wound back again upon it, so asto be ready for the next exhibition. Roller 14 is free to follow thisrotation, since cog-wheel 37is only loosely mounted and not otherwiseoperatively connected.

In order to have all operations exactly of the same duration, so thatthe ribbon always comes back to the same starting-point, it is necessarythat the extent of motion or number of revolutions While winding uponone roller is equal to the extent of motion while winding again upon theother roller. T0 obtain this, I arrange that cog-wheel 37 makes eachtime a full revolution, rotating first in one direction and then in theother, coming each time to a dead stop by having a pin 47 on it engaginga stop 48. Since the presence of this pin would prevent cog-wheel 37from going through a full revolution each time, I provide a pivotalconnection for stop 48, allowing it to yield to an extent which equalsthe thickness of pin 47, to which extent each revolution would otherwisebe IOO IIO

short. This yield is limited to the proper distance by limiting theswing of stop 48 between pins 49. (See dotted lines in Fig. 2.)

In order to have the rotation of the exhibition-roller of a speedsufficiently slow for convenient observation of the pictures, 1 retardthe same by means of an interposed geartrain contained in amovement-frame 5l, taking its initial start of motion from any of therotary parts described, preferably from shaft 15, and ending in a fan 52on shaft 53. Between these two limits there is a number of sets ofengaging cog-Wheels and pinions transmitting the motion from shaft 15 toshaft 53. The connection of this gear-train to shaft 15 is by means ot'a ratchet-Wheel 54 engaging a pawl 55 on the first cog-wheel of thegeartrain, and which connection is so arranged tha't the rotation ofshaft 15 is transmitted to said gear-train only at the time when theformer is positively rotated by the springmotor during the exhibition ofthe pictures; otherwise-that is, at the timewhen roller 14 is rotated bythe ribbon while nnwinding from it-this rotation is not transmitted tothe gear-train.

It is necessary that all manipulations connected with the winding of themotor and the insertion of the coin, when such is used, are properlyperformed to insure a complete winding of the spring and to prevent inthe latter case the premature release of the coin Where its presence andcoaction is made necessary for the winding. Therefore it is arrangedthat the handle after once started cannot be returned from anyintermediate position which'otherwise would release the coin until ithas been fully moved 'through the intended range of its movement and asrequired to completely wind or set under tension the spring ofthe motor.This is accomplished by a pawl-and-ratchet device, the latter in shapeof a toothed segment 56, being simply a rearward extension of lever 28,both being snpported and rigidly connected to pivot-pin 26, which formsa rock-shaft and to which leverhandle 22 is also rigidly connected, sothat all move together. The complementary pawl, numbered 57, is normallyheld in engagement with this segmental ratchet and remains so until thelever-handle has been moved through its full stroke, holding itmeanwhile against reverse rotation at every intermediate point to whichit has been advanced. At the end of thisimovement a projection 58 on itstrikes the point of said pawl and throws it out of engagement, by whichtime segmen` tal rack 27 has been fully raised to the intended extentand main spring 32 is set under tension. The handle may now be released,when spring 33 carries it and the other parts connected therewithquickly to their respec tive normal positions, separating also the endof finger 29 from the forked end of angle-lever 25 and liberating thecoin. When so returning to normal positions, a hook-shaped projection 59at the other upper end of segmental ratchet 56 engages and strikes pawl57 back of its point, thereby throwing it again in position for readyengagement with the ratchet du ring the next operation of the parts.

To 4hold'pawl 57 in either one of these positions and to prevent it frombeing' thrown out too far and beyond reach of projection 59,- there is alocking-pawl 6l, having two notches 62, either one of Which is occupiedby the heel of pawl 57 and whereby this latteris held in either one ofits two positions, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. This locking-pawl ispivotally supported and held by means of a spring 63 against the heel ofpawl 57, thus being capable of yielding to the motion of the former whenits heel slides from one of the notches 62 into the other one, and atthe same time it also holds pawl 57 yieldingly in either one of itspositions. It is desirable that all these 'manipulations as connectedwith the winding and setting of the spring be complete before theribbon, with the pictures, starts to move. To obtain this, the start ofoperation is made dependent on the return of the handle toits originalposition, and the means forsuch purpose consist, substantially, of astop forming an obstruction to the movement of the mechanism and whichstop is moved into operative position during the first part of thewinding manipulation and remains so until moved out of the way inconsequence of the handle arriving in its original position. Thisfeature of the device consists of a stop 64, `being a projectionextending from one of the rotating parts, preferably shaft 53, andoperating in conjunction with a pivotallysupported trigger 65, which isnormally held out of reach of this stop by a spring 66. By means of oneof the parts which moves during the winding operation-as, for instance,by means of one end of segmental rack 27, pushing against a pin 67 onthis' trigger, as shown in Fig. 2-one end of this latter is raised andswung into engagement with a trip-lever 68, `a notch in which catches alateral projection on said trigger, which projection may be the otherend of pin 67. This movement of the trigger causes its upper end toswing toward shaft 53, so as to come Within the rotary path of stop 64thereon, thus preventing rotation of said shaft. Since this shaft formspart of the gear-train constituting the speedregulating device, it isclear that this latter becomes effectually locked, and by reason of itspawl-and-rat'chet connection 54 and 55 to shaft 15, which connection isnow operative, rotation of the exhibition-roller is also prevented; butfor this locking of the movement the parts would start to operate atonce as soon as segmental rack 27 has reached its highest pointand'before the lever-handle has been returned toits normal position.Such immediate start is, however, prevented bytrip-lever 68, which stillholds trigger 65 into the path `of stop 64 and continues to do so untilacted upon in a manner to release the trigger. This release is timed tooccur at the moment .IOO

IOS

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when the lever-handle is arriving in its normal position and is effectedby it or by parts moving withit at the time. For such purpose I use theend of lever 28 ata point where it connects to finger 29 and which endat the last moment and when arrivingin its normal position strikesagainst the downwardly-turned end of the trip-lever and lifts the sameoff of pin 67 of trigger 65. Spring 66 pulls now this latter immediatelyout of the path of stop 64, thus relieving the gear-train and permittingthe device to operate. Rack 27 is pulled down by the main spring androller 14 is positively rotated, taking on the pictures which it unwindsfrom roller 11. This latter while so rotating winds cord 43 upon sheave42 on its shaft, thereby raising weight 45. When rack 27 has passed outof gear with pinion 34, then said weight drops at once, positivelyrotating roller 11, which takes the pictures back from roller 14, bothrollers now rotating in directions opposite to their previous rotation.

It is preferable to provide for possibility of removal of the upperroller, for which purpose I have shaft 15 in two sections, held togetherby any suitable coupling 83.

The connection of the ends of ribbon 10 to the rollers is such as lopermit detachment for interchange and renewal of pictures. For suchpurpose there are bars S4, one at each end of the ribbon and eachprovided with buttons S5 at their ends adapted to pass into openings ofspringcatches 86, which openings communicate with slots to be occupiedby the shanks of said buttons.

The whole apparatus is inclosed within an outer casing, access to whichis had by means of a door S7, which is simply one of the sides or endsof this casing and is not hinged or otherwise permanently connected tothis latter, except at such times when temporarily held thereto by alock. The mechanism by such parts of its frame next adjacent to thisdoor is permanently connected thereto and access is therefore by simplyunlocking this door, moving it away from the casing, the mechanismconnected thereto following. This involves a sliding movement of themechanism within the casing, and since such reqnires a close fit of theparts I make the base of frame 13 adjustable to the clear inside widthof the casing, which is done by having a special frame-section 88 forsuch purpose which is adjustably connected to the other frame.

Having described my invention, I claim as new- 1. A picture-exhibitingdevice, consisting of an outer case, a ribbon which carries thepictures, bars at each end of this ribbon, buttons at the ends of thesebars, two rollers supported with a space between them, each having aspring-catch attached near each of its ends, an opening in the free endof each of these catches adapted to receive the buttons mentioned andwhereby the picture-ribbon is detachably secured to the rollers, thelength of this ribbon being largely in excess of the space between therollers, which excess is normally wound upon one of these latter andmechanism to wind this ribbon from one roller onto the other and backagain.

2. In a coin-controlled picture-exhibiting device, the combination of aribbon carrying pictures, rollers spaced apart to which the ends of thisribbon are secured, mechanism whereby this ribbon is wound from oneroller onto the other, and means whereby it is normally returned uponthe first roller, a frame to which all these parts are secured andwhereby they are supported, an outer case which receives this frame,which latter is attached to one of the sides or ends thereof, such endhaving no permanent connection with the case, so that the same with theframe attached may be removed as a whole by being slid endwise out ofthe case, a lock whereby this removable end may be temporarily held tothe case, an opening in this latter provided with view-glasses throughwhich the pictures may be seen, and an adjustable frame-section 88 toadjust the width of the frame to the inside of the case.

3. A picture-exhibiting device, consisting of an outer case, two rollerssupported within, withaspace between them, a ribbon which carries thepictures secured with its ends to each one of these rollers, the lengthof said ribbon being largely in excess of the space between the rollers,which surplus is normally carried upon one of these latter, an openingin the outer case opposite the space between the two rollers andprovided with view-glasses, a spring-motor for rotating the empty rollerto wind upon it the ribbon from the other roller, such rotation being atslow speed, so that the pictures become visible while passing behind theview-glasses and means operating automatically and at increased speedfor winding the ribbon back again upon the irst roller.

4. A picture-exhibiting device, consisting of an outer case, two rollerssupported within, with a space between them, a ribbon which carries thepictures secured with its ends to each one of these rollers, the lengthof said ribbon being largely in excess ot' the space between therollers,which surplus is normally carried upon one of these latter, anopening in the outer case opposite the space between the two rollers andprovided with view-glasses, a spring-motor for rotating the empty rollerto wind upon it the ribbon from the other roller, a lever-handle wherebythe same may be wound, a drive-shaf t adapted to be rotated by saidspring-motor, an operatively-connected gear-train to control the speedof rotation of said drive-shaft and a stop adapted to lock saidgear-train against rotation and hold it so until released by thelever-handle when this latter is returned to its normal position.

5. A picture-exhibiting device, consisting of an outer case, two rollerssupported within, with a space between them, a ribbon which IOO IIO

carries the pictures secured with its ends to each one of these rollers,the length of said ribbon beingv largely in excess of the space betweenthe rollers,which surplus is normally carried upon one of these latter,an opening in the outer case opposite 'the space between the two rollersand provided with view-glasses, a spring-motor for rotating the emptyroller to wind upon it the ribbon from the other roller, a lever-handlewhereby the same may be wound, a segmental ratchet on this latter, apawl remaining in engagement therewith during the operative manipulationof the leverhandle and preventing return of the same from anyintermediate position and means disengaging said pawl after thatmanipulation to permit return of the lever-handle to its normalposition.

6. A picture-exhibiting device, consisting of an outer ease, two rollerssupported within, with a space between them, a ribbon which carries thepictures secured with its ends to each one of these rollers, the lengthof said spring-motor to the drive-shaft, said cogwheel loosely mounted,so as to transmit such action only in one direction, means whereby saidcog-wheel is returned to its startingpoint and a pin 47 and a yieldingstop 48 for defining such position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of twowitnesses.

ALBERT HOERMLE.

Witnesses:

C. SPENGEL, GEO. SUNBY.

